1. Testing Solar Cookers

2. What do commercial solar cookers look like?
All angled sides lined with aluminum foil
Explain that the above image is a design of a real solar cooker from a website on outdoor cooking. Review the parts of the cooker so that students are clear the function of each.
Clear plastic over container
Black container that holds food

3. Let’s put them to the test!
Explain to students that a family wanted to test their solar cooker. So, they tested the cookers as described above. Each cooker is filled with a beaker of water and a thermometer.

4. Testing the cookers 10 am – 12 pm 12 pm – 2 pm 2 pm – 4 pm 45 mL water
Explain to students that a family wanted to test their solar cooker. So, they tested the cookers as described above. Each cooker is filled with a beaker of water and a thermometer.
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm

5. Testing the cookers What is the problem the family is investigating?
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
Have every student write down an answer before calling on a student to provide.
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
What is the problem the family is investigating?

6. Testing the cookers What is the problem the family is investigating?
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
What is the problem the family is investigating?
What time of day is solar energy the strongest ?

7. Testing the cookers
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
Have every student write down an answer before calling on a student to provide.
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
What is the independent variable in this investigation?

8. Testing the cookers
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
What is the independent variable in this investigation?
Time of day

9. Testing the cookers How can we make this a more controlled experiment?
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
Have every student write down an answer before calling on a student to provide.
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
How can we make this a more controlled experiment?

10. How can we make this a more controlled experiment?
Testing the cookers
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
How can we make this a more controlled experiment?
The amount of water in each beaker should be the same.

11. What must we do before we begin the experiment?
Testing the cookers
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
Have every student write down an answer before calling on a student to provide.
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
What must we do before we begin the experiment?

12. Testing the cookers What must we do before we begin the experiment?
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
What must we do before we begin the experiment?
Measure the temperature of the water in the beaker.

13. What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
Testing the cookers
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
Have every student write down an answer before calling on a student to provide.
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
What is the dependent variable in this experiment?

14. Testing the cookers What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
45 mL water
50 mL water
45 mL water
10 am – 12 pm
12 pm – 2 pm
2 pm – 4 pm
What is the dependent variable in this experiment?
The change in temperature of the water.

15. What is the purpose of the aluminum foil?
All angled sides lined with aluminum foil
Explain that the above image is a design of a real solar cooker from a website on outdoor cooking. Review the parts of the cooker so that students are clear the function of each.
Clear plastic over container
Black container that holds food

16. What is the purpose of the aluminum foil
What is the purpose of the aluminum foil? To reflect the light onto the cooking area.
All angled sides lined with aluminum foil
Explain that the above image is a design of a real solar cooker from a website on outdoor cooking. Review the parts of the cooker so that students are clear the function of each.
Clear plastic over container
Black container that holds food

17. What is the purpose of the clear plastic cover over the container?
All angled sides lined with aluminum foil
Explain that the above image is a design of a real solar cooker from a website on outdoor cooking. Review the parts of the cooker so that students are clear the function of each.
Clear plastic over container
Black container that holds food

18. What is the purpose of the clear plastic cover over the container
What is the purpose of the clear plastic cover over the container? To block the warmed air in the container from escaping.
All angled sides lined with aluminum foil
Explain that the above image is a design of a real solar cooker from a website on outdoor cooking. Review the parts of the cooker so that students are clear the function of each.
Clear plastic over container
Black container that holds food